Abbas spokesman: We'll thwart Trump's peace plan

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the official spokesman of Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas, on Sunday threatened increased violence against Israel in an attempt to thwart the American plan to renew talks between Israel and the PA.

The PA’s official news agency Wafa quoted Abu Rudeineh as saying that "all the plots aimed at eliminating the Palestinian problem will collapse because of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and its adherence to the basic principles and legitimate rights."

"Our path is clear and we stand behind Abu Mazen's historic leadership, in order to oppose all the suspicious plans," he added.

The spokesman further said that the proposed American solution is dubious and will not meet the aspirations of the Palestinians.

Abbas has sought an alternative to direct talks with Israel and has refused to consider the Trump administration an honest broker for negotiations since President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last December.

PA officials have repeatedly rejected the Trump administration’s peace proposal, claiming it was coordinated with Israel.

While the plan has not yet been made official, the Arabic newspaper recently Asharq al-Awsat published what it said were the details of Trump’s peace plan, though it cited unnamed French officials as its sources.

Those officials told the newspaper that the American president will present a diplomatic plan including recognition of a Palestinian state not based on the pre-1967 lines, while the Jordan Valley will remain in Israeli hands, the Palestinian Arab demand for a "right of return" will not be implemented and the "Palestinian refugees" will be compensated and remain where they are.

The alleged plan also states that the large Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria will remain in place but some of the smaller communities would be evacuated. The Palestinian state would be demilitarized and have limited sovereignty.

It includes the transfer of other security and administrative responsibilities to the Arab authorities in Areas A and B. The capital of the Palestinian state would be in eastern Jerusalem.

The PA official in charge of foreign affairs later said some European Union countries would negotiate with the United States to persuade it to amend its peace plan.